Rape suspect threatened to set house on fire before attack on woman in her 80s, cops say

A 27-year-old man poured gasoline over himself and threatened to set the house of a woman in her 80s ablaze if she would not have sex with him, and then forced himself on her anyway, according to New Orleans Police Department documents.

The 85-year-old woman called police March 19, nearly two weeks after the rape, when Duglas Begarano started knocking on her door in the Broadmoor section while intoxicated, according to Begarano's arrest report.

She told police Begarano had forced her into her basement in the 3600 block of Napoleon Avenue and poured gasoline on the floor and himself, the report said. He threatened to burn her house down if she didn't have sex with him, then raped her.

The woman said he threatened her again if she called the police.

The offense occurred March 8 around 4:30 p.m., the report said.

Police believe Begarano to be a homeless, self-employed man, according to the report. He was informed of his charges and bonds in Spanish through a translator.

Duglas Begarano was charged with aggravated rape and extortion after the attack, police said.

Five neighbors said they did not recognize Begarano and hadn't seen him in the area. The woman lives alone, but rents out the first floor of her house to a man who helps her with work around the house, said neighbor Jose Sierra. Begarano is not that man, Sierra said.